A Pirated Heart: Magic Unbound

Her Family and the Return

Arabella sighed as she stopped next to Damien and Ashik who were busy sharpening cutlasses and prepping gunpowder.

“Do we all get hugs?” Ashik teased as he smirked at her. Arabella shook her head and glanced over at her brother who was hunched over a barrel of gunpowder and a batch of pistols.

“Did anything happen while I was asleep?” Arabella questioned as she looked around. What crew was above deck kept passing glances at her as if they were waiting for something. A trick. A twirl. Something.

Before either Ashik or Damien could answer her, Kaden cleared his throat. Arabella turned to face him. He tensed instantly when their eyes met. Arabella’s eyebrow rose at Kaden’s sudden fidgeting. Her lips turned down in the corners as she waited for him to speak his piece. When he remained quiet, Arabella grew frustrated. The air was far too thick for her liking.

“What is it you incompetent oaf?” She growled. Suddenly it was as if the heaviness from the air had been lifted. Kaden stopped fidgeting. The crew started to scurry around her and the deck. Ashik chuckled. Damien snorted.

“I am your captain.” Kaden rebutted.

“Then what do you want oh mighty captain?” Arabella quipped as she folded her arms across her chest.  Kaden groaned as he looked between Damien and Arabella. Damien glanced over his shoulder and frowned when he noticed the trepidation in his captain’s features. He put aside his work and stood next to his sister expectantly.

“Your father is awake.” Kaden announced stoically. Ashik paused in his work as he glanced at the Cartridge siblings. Kaden’s kept his eyes pinned on Arabella’s features. He was waiting for a change, for a spark, for something horrible.

“So he’s alive then?” Arabella replied quietly. Damien’s frown deepened.

“You didn’t know he was alive?”

“I should’ve hit him harder.” Arabella growled as she clenched her fists in her elbows. Damien sighed.

“Bella…”

“Are you going to defend him to me, Damien? He has tried to kill me!” Arabella rounded on her brother and pinned her narrowed eyes on his. Damien stood his ground.

“I understand that, Bella, but he’s our father,” Damien pleaded. Arabella scoffed.

“No, he’s your father. I have no parents.” She snarled as she pulled her arms tighter against her chest.

“Bella…” Kaden started just as Arabella stormed away. She pushed past the captain and stomped across the deck before disappearing into the forecastle. Kaden ran his hand through his hair as he turned back to Damien expectantly.

“That’s new,” he quipped solemnly. Damien nodded his head as his eyes stayed pinned on the forecastle door.

“I assume that means it is up to you, young one,” Ashik remarked as he moved to stand next to Damien. Damien groaned as he scrubbed his face with his hands.

“Let me go…talk to her,” he offered as he jogged across the deck and then disappeared into the forecastle behind his sister. Ashik shrugged and turned back to his work. Kaden stood there for only a moment before he turned and returned to his post at the ship’s wheel.

******

“You!” Katarina screeched as Arabella stepped into the brig when night fell. Arabella narrowed her eyes on the furious woman.

“What are you still doing here?” Arabella questioned before folding her arms across her chest.

“You put me in here! And those brutes won’t let me go! Aren’t you satisfied?! You’ve taken away my love!” Katarina wailed just as loud, condescending laughter filled the air.